xv, 238 pages ; 21 cm

Adaptations have long been a mainstay of Hollywood and the television networks. Indeed, most Academy Award- and Emmy Award-winning films have been adaptations of novels, plays, or true-life stories. Linda Seger, author of two acclaimed books on scriptwriting, now offers a comprehensive handbook for screenwriters, producers, and directors who want to successfully transform fictional or factual material into film. Seger tells how to analyze source material to understand why some of it resists adaptation. She then gives practical methods for translating story, characters, themes, and style into film. A final section details essential information on how to adapt material and how to protect oneself legally [Publisher description]

"An Owl book."

"How to transform novels, plays, and true-life stories into screenplays"--Cover

Includes bibliographical references (pages 226-228) and index

Introduction : Turning fact and fiction into film -- Part One : What's the problem? -- Why literature resists film -- Why theatre resists film -- Why the true-life story resists film -- From film into film -- Part Two : Creating the second original -- Finding the story -- Choosing the characters -- Exploring the theme -- Creating and shading style, mood, and tone -- Part Three : Twice told, twice sold -- Optioning a story -- Writing a docudrama for television

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